Every year, in northeast China's Heilongjiang province, the city of Harbin hosts the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, featuring massive ice and snow sculptures. At night, the sculptures are colorfully illuminated and visitors can climb and play on some of the structures. The festival officially opened on January 5 this year, and will run through the end of February. According to organizers, the winter festival now draws several million tourists each year, from China and from abroad. [26 photos total]

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People visit ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights during a trial operation ahead of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China, on January 4.
(Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)
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Newlywed couples, after their group wedding ceremony, which was held as part of the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival on January 6. The wedding ceremony was organized by the city government and 11 couples from China, Russia and Egypt participated in the ceremony.
(Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)
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A picture taken on January 4 shows a couple posing at the China Ice and Snow World on the eve of the opening ceremony of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival.
(Fred DuFour/AFP/Getty Images)
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